Storm window



Nov. 26, 1957 A. w. DURR 2,814,078

STORM WINDOW Filed Sept. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F /G ARTHUR W W/5"ATTORNEYS Nov 26; 1957 A. w. DURR 2,814,078

STORM WINDOW Filed Sept. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 37 AR THURw DURR A TTORNE Y5 United States Patent O 2,814,078 STORM WINDOW ArthurW. Durr, Akron, Ohio 'gApplicatijon September 20, 1954, Serial No;456,969 Claims. (01. -55

, .This. -invention relates to storm windows, and particrularly-to,novel adjustable size frame means, and storm .windowmeans foruse inassociationtherewit-h.

1.01331'011 1116' 'very important problems in the manufac- -ture'ofstorm windows commercially today is that these istorm windows normallyhadbeen made up to' individual .-ord,e13 and :to measured sizes forspecific installations. Hence storm Windows and frames have'beenquite-costly .articlesrsothat all persons requiring storm windows havelnOt-fe1tieconOmlcany able to purchase and/or install such gitems.'-,Such tailored manufacture of stormwindow -unitshas been necessary duetothe Widely different sizes ,-of. -win'dows;-in*various' homesandbecause the window rframeswon'casings may become out 'of square orhave .other irregularities occur thereindue to warping, saggingsoreother aging, conditions in the window frame orbuilding in which theframe is positioned.

fTheigflnfil'al; object of 'my' invention isto provide a new,improved-storm window frame which is readily and easilyvadjustableinbothrheight and width'in' the manu- -.faeture;-of'ftheframe. 2

Another objectof the invention isto provide "storm twindo'wjframes andwindows that can -be produced as stahdarditemsi at reduced cost to theconsumer.

A further object of *theinventionis to" provide a storm .WllIldOWfthfltcan be purchasedas a'standard unassembled. kitwhereinztherails for theframe and storm panel can be cut to proper size after which thecomponents can vbei readily assembled into a window frame "and stormpanel of'd'esired size. il-Further objects of'the invention areto'provide'aspeoialnlocking or'sealingflange-on a storm panel thatconiihually engages a complementary contoured beveled edge onthe stormWindow frame itself and to use a panel receiving recess: in'the frame toaid in sealing the joint betweenwthe frame andthe panel; to, providetelescoped portionsiin as storm window frame to aid in obtaining aspringvpressure engagement of a storm window frame with a window framein which it is positioned; andto providea storm window frame that can bemadefrom any suitable material andwhich" is of neat,attractiveappearance'with" operating mechanism holding the storm windowframe "in place being enclosed within parts of the storm window frame.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of theinventionwill-bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds. I

For a better understanding of the. present invention, reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

iFig. 1 is an elevation, partially broken away and shown in verticalsection, of a storm window frame embodying the principles of theinvention and shown in a locked or reduced size position; I

Fig. 2 is a'fragmentary vertical elevation,partially shown ,in section,of the storm window frame with the wifidowframe in released position;

2,814,078 fiatented Nov. 26, 1957 ICC *Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionthrough a window sash and frame unit of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through a-window sash and frameunit of theinvention;

"Fig' 5 is' an elevation of a portion of a corner of a windowpaneh and'p 'f'Fig', 6*is an enlarged section on line 6-6 of "Fig.{" 5.

When referring -fto. corresponding parts in the accompanying drawings 1and specification, corresponding 1 1 unmeralsare usd to facilitatecomparison between such similarpafts. ji The present invention ingeneral relates to' a flsto rm window comprisinga pluralityof hollow'frame means, corner brackets engaging end portions of the frame'ineansto make a closed open center frame therefrom wherein the corner bracketsat a pair of diagonally opposed corners engage the frame means withtelescopic joints, and spring means connectthe frame means to the cornerbrackets to urge'the frame means outwardly with relation thereto and"increasethe' overall outer dimensions of the frame. A controlshaft isjournalled in one of the corner brackets and means extend through theframe means and connect the control shaft to the spring means tocompress such springsandreduce the overall size of the frame when thecontrol shaft and associated members are properly operated to permittheframe to be inserted into an opening in a building window frame.

With reference to the details of the construction shown 'inthe drawings,an auxiliary or storm window is shown and is'illustrated asa whole bythe numeral 1. This storm wi'ndow l comprises aplurality of hollow framerails 'that-initially-may be of standard length and be cut to size';priortoassembly by the person assembling and 'inst'allingthe -stormwindow, and that comprise side rails "2 '2,- a bottomrail 200 and anupper rail '201 that are secured together by -a plurality oflongitudinally split cornerbra'ckets 3, 4, 5 and 6. Preferably the endsof the frame rails-are secured to the corner bracketsfi and"5 and-a unitis made therefrom by cap screws 7, or the like, tofOrnianimmovable-jointtherewith. However, asone importantfeature ofthe'invention, the opposite ends'of the 'frame' rails 2,2, 200 and2il1are" telescopicallyengaged with' the corner means or brackets 4 and 6so'that a variation in the overlap of the frame rails with the cornerbrackets will provide a size adjustment'of 'the storm window frame meansin both length and width when the unit is being positioned in or removedfroma frame opening. 1 i

{The corner brackets 4 and 6 are of similar construction and one suchcorner will be described indetail to show howthe 'various' -framecomponents can be relatively moved or adjustedwith relation to eachother. Eachof the side; rails2, 2, is shown as having a substantiallytubular, or U-sha'ped bracket 8' secured, as by spot welding, thereto andwith such bracket being positioned adjacent the ends of the frame railengaging the corner bracket 4 or 6. [Such bracketf8; provides oneportion. of a receptacle or-enclosurefor-a conventional coil spring 9that engages'the bracketftl to, urge the frame rail 2 outwardly of thecorner bracket. The opposite. end of'the coil spring 9 is seated upon asecond positioning bracketl ll, which'also'may be of tubular or.U-shapein. section, arid with such second positioning bracketll) beingwelded or otherwise suitably secured to a positioning plate 11suitably'positioned'within eachof the corner brackets 4" andG-andwitheach plate 11 having a pair of the positioning brackets 10secured thereto and extending therefrom insubstantially lnormalrelationship toeachother, as best shown on Fig. -l,. of. the, drawings.

.The bottom rail .200 and upper rail x201 likewise have brackets. 8securedthereto at the ends thereof adjacent control links 12is'pivotally engaged with one ofthe brackets 8 in one of the side rails2 and bottom rail 200,

for example. The opposite ends of these 'control links 12 are shownpivotally engaged with pins .or rivets 13 that are secured to thecorners of suitable members such as generally triangular control means,or control plates 14 with one control plate 14 being journalled in eachof the corner brackets 4 and 6 by positioning pins 15, usually extendingthrough the complete corner bracket 4 or 6. It thus will be seen thatarcuate movement of the control plates 14 will vary the relationshipofthe positioning bracket8 to the frame rails and produce relativetelescopic movement of such frame rails with relation to the cornerbrackets and change the frame s1ze.

Another important feature of the invention is that the entire frame sizeor temporary adjustability of the frame means of the invention iscontrolled by a unitary member provided in this instance in associationwith the corner bracket of the storm window 1. The corner bracket 5 hasa shaft 16 suitably journalled therein and such shaft 16 has a pair ofcrank arms 17 and 18 secured thereto and extending therefrom at rightangle relationship to each other. Fig. 1 also clearly shows that crankarm 17 has connector means, such as a link 19 pivotally secured theretothat engages, through a chain 20 or equivalent member, with a secondconnector link 21 one end portion of which is pivotally secured to acontrol plate 14 as by a pin or rivet 202. Likewise the control arm 18is connected to the control plate journalled in the corner bracket 4 sothat arcuate movement of the control shaft 16 can cause arcuate movementof both control plates for moving, or compressing the control springs 9and serving to draw the ends of the rails 2, 2, 200 and 201telescopically within the corner brackets 4 and 6 so that the overallsize of the storm window is reduced. The storm window and control meansare shown in their locked, or compressed condition, and it will be seenthat it is desirable to have the adjustable frame means retain theirlocked position when once moved thereto in erder to facilitate movingthe storm window means to and from operative position. Such action issecured because of the offset relationship provided between the crankarms 17, 18 and the connecting links 19 and the oppositely directedforces set up thereby on the positioning shaft 16 provided in the stormwindow assembly.

Fig. 2 best shows the released positioning of the control plates 14 andassociated means which show the relative adjustment or outer positionsof the frame rails with relation to the positioning corner brackets inorder to fit snugly, for example, in a window frame.

With reference to the storm window and panel assembly in Figs. 3 and 4,Fig. 4 clearly shows that the side rails 2. 2 are both of the samesectional shape and are adapted to receive a window panel, screen panelor the like 22 snug'y therebetween, while the panel also is engaged witha downwardly directed open recess 23 formed in the top rail 201. Suchpanel 22 abuts against a shoulder 24 provided on the bottom rail 200. Itwill be noted that the recess 23 is appreciably deeper than the lengthof the panel 22 engaged therewith in order to permit the storm windowpanel to he slid into and out of such recess when engaging the panelwith the storm window frame or when disengaging it therefrom. It shouldbe noted that both the frame rails 2, 2 have laterally inwardly directedshoulders 25 provided thereon which terminate in laterally inwardlydirected ribs 26 normally formed integrally with the hollow frame rails2, 2. These ribs 26 each have one surface extending normally from theshoulders 25 and immediately adjacent thereto to provide a seat for thepanel 22. The panel is of a size to bear against the adjacent edges ofthe ribs 26 to form an air-tight seal therewith. The rails for the panel22 are initially made of a desired length and are-cut to size forassembly with a given size storm window frame and the shoulders 24, 24and the rib 26 thereon. A further feature of the panel 22 is that it hasan outwardly positioned, downwardly directed flange 27 provided alongthe lower edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. This flange 27 is shapedcomplementary to the outer surface of a rib 28 usually formed integrallywith the bottom rail 200 so that the panel 22 is held against thecomponents of the storm window frame by the tapered engagement of therib and flange with changes in size of the storm window frame means. Itwill be realized that any conventional materials may be used in makingthe panel 22 and the frame components thereof to aid in obtaining asealed engagement of such panel with the storm window frame means.

The panel 22 may have glass, screening, plastic sheeting or othersuitable material in the center thereof, and secured in place byconventional means. To secure side rails 29, 29 of the panel to the toprail 30 and the bottom rail 31, corner plates 32 are provided and securesuch rails together. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the corner plates 32have a plurality of fingers 33 extending therefrom with adjacent fingersbeing bent or struck to extend in opposite directions so that thefingers may engage walls, or side edges of the rails 29, 30 or 31, whichare generally U-shape in section, to form the panel 22. A plastic sheet34 is anchored to the panel rails by center bars or rails 35 snugly andslidably received in the open centers of the rails 29, 30 and 31, withthe sheet 34 usually covering opposed surfaces of the center bars 35.Reinforcing rolled edges 36 are provided on the side rails 29, 29.

Sponge strips 37 made from any desired conventional material may be usedto seal around the edges of the frame rails when the storm window frameis operatively positioned in a window opening. The strips 37 normallywould be cemented to the storm window frame rails.

An end of the shaft 16 is slotted and exposed through the storm windowframe assembly so that a screw driver or similar member can be engagedtherewith to turn the shaft and move the frame components to reducedsize, or to release the frame for expansion into holding engagement witha window frame.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been a storm windowprovided by the invention which window'and panel therein can easily bemade of correct size for a given window from a standard window assemblykit. This storm window can be made up easily to proper size and it willreadily adjust or adapt itself to individual window frame sizes andconditions so as to have tight engagement therewith. The window panelused in practice of the invention will maintain its sealed engagementwith the frame means provided therefor with slight variations in framesize inasmuch as the top and bottom of such panel members would normallybe engaged snugly with the top and bottom rail means provided in thestorm window and this would hold the lateral margins of the window panel22 or of a screen panel snugly against the side frame members. Byprovision of this'type of a storm window unit, the engagement of whichwith its window frame is readily controllable from one corner thereof,more assembly line technics can be used in the production andinstallation of storm windows so that an economical but desirablestructure is provided and the objects of the invention are achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An auxiliary window comprising frame means having telescopicallyengaging diagonally opposite corner portions, and means positioned atanother corner portion of said frame means and connecting to saidtelescopically engaging corner portions to move such corner portionsrelative to the remainder of said frame means and control the size ofsaid frame means from said another corner portion.

2. An auxiliary window comprising frame means including corner bracketshaving hollow frame rails telescopically engaged therewith, and meanspositioned at another corner of said frame means and connecting to saidtelescopically engaged rails to move such rails and change the size ofsaid frame means from said another corner, said means lying within saidhollow frame rails.

3. A storm window frame comprising a plurality of frame rails, cornerbrackets engaging the ends of said frame rails to make a closed frametherefrom, at least some of said corner brackets engaging said framerails telescopically, spring means connecting said frame rails to saidcorner brackets and normally urging said frame rails outwardly withrelation thereto to tend to increase the overall dimensions of theframe, and unitary control means connected to said spring means forcompressing said spring means and temporarily reducing the overall sizeof the frame.

4. A storm window frame comprising a plurality of hollow frame means,corner brackets engaging ends of said frame means to make a closed frametherefrom, said corner brackets at a pair of diagonally opposed cornersengaging said frame means telescopically, spring means connecting saidframe means to said corner brackets and urging said frame meansoutwardly with relation thereto to tend to increase the overalldimensions of the frame, and means connecting to said spring means tocompress said spring means and reduce the overall size of the frame.

5. A window frame comprising a plurality of hollow frame means, cornerbrackets engaging ends of said frame means to make aclosed frametherefrom, said corner brackets at a pair of diagonally opposed cornersengaging said frame means telescopically, spring means connecting saidframe means to said corner brackets and urging said frame meansoutwardly with relation thereto to tend to increase the overalldimensions of the frame, a control shaft journalled in another of saidcorner brackets, and means extending through said frame means andconnecting said control shaft to said spring means to compress saidspring means and reduce the overall size of the frame.

6. A storm window comprising a plurality of frame rails, a pair ofdiagonally opposed corner brackets secured to said rails, a second pairof diagonally opposed corner brackets telescopically engaging said framerails with a pair of frame rails extending from each of said bracketsand forming a right angle therewith, spring means securing said framerails to said second pair of corner brackets and urging said frame railsalong their axes away from the said corner bracket with which such framerails are engaged, control means pivotally carried by each of saidsecond pair of corner brackets, link means connecting said control meansto said spring means positioned thereadjacent to control the telescopedportions of said frame rails, control members, and means connecting saidcontrol members to said control means whereby the sections of an entirequadrilateral frame can be pulled together in both length and widthsimultaneously.

7. A storm window comprising a plurality of frame rails, a pair ofdiagonally opposed corner brackets secured to said rails, a second pairof diagonally opposed corner brackets telescopically engaging said framerails with a pair of said frame rails extending from each of saidbrackets and forming a right angle therewith, spring means securing saidframe rails to said second pair of corner brackets and urging said framerails along their axes away from the said corner bracket with which suchframe rails are engaged, control plates pivotally carried by each ofsaid second pair of corner brackets, link means connecting said controlplates to the said spring means positioned thereadjacent to control thetelescoped portions of said frame rails, control means journalled in oneof said first-named pair of said corner brackets, and means connectingsaid control means to said control plates whereby an entirequadrilateral frame can be pulled together or be expanded in both lengthand width simultaneously by said control means.

8. In an auxiliary window, frame means including corner brackets andhollow frame rails, at least one of said hollow frame railstelescopically engaging a said corner bracket, connector means receivedwithin said one hollow frame rail and extending at least the lengththereof, a member pivotally positioned in the said corner bracket inwhich one end of said one hollow frame rail is telescopically received,said connector means engaging said member and operatively engaging saidone hollow frame rail for moving it farther into engagement with saidbracket, and means engaging said connector means adjacent the oppositeend of said one hollow frame rail to move such rail and said one bracketwith relation to each other.

9. In an auxiliary window, frame means including corner brackets andframe rails, at least one of said frame rails telescopically engaging asaid corner bracket, connector means carried by said one frame rail andextending at least the length thereof, a member pivotally positioned inthe said corner bracket in which one end of said one frame rail istelescopically received, said connector means engaging said member andoperatively engaging said one frame rail for moving it farther intoengagement with said bracket, spring means for urging said one framerail to move out of engagement with said bracket, and means engagingsaid connector means adjacent the opposite end of said one frame rail tomove said one rail and said one bracket with relation to each otheragainst the resistance of said spring means.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein a pair of corner brackets eachtelescopically engage a pair of hollow frame rails, members arepivotally positioned in each of said brackets, said connector meansextend to a common third corner bracket, and means engaging saidconnector means at said third corner bracket for unitary control of thesize of a quadrilateral frame made by the apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS172,511 Simpson et a1. June 18, 1876 1,002,166 Lunken Aug. 29, 19112,541,948 Swartswelter Feb. 13, 1951 2,572,764 Rogers Oct. 23, 19512,573,681 Bachelder Nov. 6, 1951 2,589,685 Edwards Mar. 18, 19522,705,062 Bongiovanni Mar. 29, 1955

